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We track library books better than we do sexual predators
Posted by Raven on September 14th, 2005
The House did something decent today. Not that they never do any good of course, but with all the recent stuff about relief/pork funds for victims of the hurricane, it was nice to read that other things are still important.
Child sex offenders would be subject to stringent monitoring requirements and face new mandatory penalties under a House-passed bill that was expanded to include protections for gays and lesbians under federal hate crime law.
The House voted 371-52 Wednesday in favor of the Children’s Safety Act (search), which, among its many provisions, creates a national Web site for child sex offenders and stipulates that sex felons face up to 20 years in prison for failing to comply with registration requirements.
–SNIP–
The sex offender bill, which also requires felony offenders to register for life and authorizes the death penalty for sex crimes resulting in the killing of a child, responds to what House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., said was a “national crisis” in child sex offenses. He said that of some 550,000 convicted sex offenders in the nation, the whereabouts of 100,000 are unknown.Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., said, “We track library books better than we do sexual predators.”
Sensenbrenner said the legislation would get favorable treatment in the Senate and he expected it to be signed into law by the end of the year.
The White House, in a statement, expressed support, saying that even though sex crimes against children have declined significantly in recent years, more needs to be done. It noted that the legislation codified the online National Sex Offender Public Registry that the Justice Department launched earlier this year.
The legislation brings together parts of numerous proposals to protect children from sex offenders. Sections of the bill are named after victims in cases that gained national prominence, including North Dakota college student Dru Sjodin and 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford of Florida.
The cases we hear about in the news are bad-but they represent what happens all the time. Even though the rate of crimes has declined, the actual depth of each crime has gotten worse, and often includes mudering the child.
Something has to be done. I don’t give two cents concern for those guilty of these crimes either, even those who have served “their time”. I support the death penalty in all cases involving children. Plain and simple.
Cross Posted @ Merri’s Musings
September 15th, 2005 at 2:12 am
Hi Raven. I followed you from Jeremy’s blog, and have been enjoying my visits here.
I agree with you wholeheartedly. Recently two sex offenders were shot to death in their home, a few blocks from where I live. My only regret is that the shooter didn’t get the third roommate.
September 15th, 2005 at 3:26 am
Hello Raven. Saw you at Warmonger’s blog so came for a visit.
I couldn’t agree more. We have always been too easy on child molesters and rapists. The Children’s Safety Act is a beginning and I am happy for it.
I also agree the death penalty is the way to go for any murderer. And I don’t want my tax money to pay for their room service etc., in prison for years before they are executed. A bullet is fast and cheap and much more humane than what they do to their little victims.
September 22nd, 2005 at 2:55 pm
“I support the death penalty in all cases involving children. Plain and simple.”
Man that sounds so reasonable…
Let’s not take the time to actually investigate how crimes such as these can be prevented. Hey, let’s not take time to see exactly who’d be affected. Let’s not take a moment to see if there might be a sound solutions; instead, let’s just kill people. What %^&$ rediculously ignorant ranting.
You are ill. Your views, if followed, do our society more harm. Your anger is toxic. Your understanding of psychology, law, civilization, family, spirituality, … is significantly impaired.